From a little hidden spot on the southern wall of the Old City, you can sit, rest, and gaze out into the new. While ancient stalls just below, perhaps once little shops, have been left to time, probably since the Roman era...
Next is from the archeological site of the City of David, just outside and below the Old City, and the spot I took the last photo. Obscured by some leaves, notice the minaret near the top left. Also notice the little entry holes cutout from under some of these (mostly) Palestinian homes/apartments.
The same minaret as above is in the middle this time, between what looks like two hills... On the left, are thousands of graves, tombs and headstones in this 3000 year old Jewish cemetery on the Mount of Olives. Unfortunately, some 60,000 more were desecrated and/or destroyed after the Jews, who were the majority in Jerusalem, were kicked out of the eastern parts of the city in 1948, and it came under Jordanian/Palestinian rule. In 1967, Israel regained physical control, but lets the village remain. Expanded since 1948, this is a Palestinian settlement, built directly on top of one of the most important, oldest Jewish cemeteries in the world. Those little entryways we saw above, and those below, are tombs, carved into the mountain. Jewish prophets, (who are also such for Christians and Muslims,) royalty, and some of the greatest Sages were/are buried here.
The village is built atop and around the necropolis of the Biblical kingdom... All of the tombs were long since emptied, and their contents removed. A great deal of destruction was done to the tombs over the centuries by quarrying and by their conversion for use as housing, both by monks in the Christian period, when some were used as churches, and later by Muslim villagers. When the Arab village was built; tombs were destroyed, incorporated in houses or turned into water cisterns and sewage dumps.
(Source)
In 1947, under the proposed U.N. Partition Plan, the Jews agreed that Yerushalayim should be an international city. To this day it is technically disputed, despite that some call it occupied... (This is not an insignificant legal distinction.)
Now heading back along the wall to the Old City gates, hoping for truth and peace... B"H in our days... Until then, things are very complicated...
Thanks For Your Attention and Support!
Melech ben Chaya מלך בן חיה, @inphiknit
You took great photos again @inphiknit!
Hey thanks @the-future, very glad you like them!
Great photos:) Hopefully eventually people will live side by side without problems.
Amein. And may we have the courage, compassion and honesty to help create the right circumstances for it... In that light, here is a perfect example of a negotiating tool that the Palestinians have. I'm sure many Israelis would willingly trade that village for another that is also disputed...
Thanks @thecryptofiend :)
Yes or even just living together rather than trading I think eventually we must evolve to the point where we realise we are the same underneath it all. You're welcome. Those really are amazing shots!
Yah, I agree with you, and we believe exactly that will eventually happen... Just that it looks like at this stage, history and (some part of) both sides are calling for the 2 state solution. If that's the case, then this is a great opportunity, if only it would be seen as such...
Thanks! Was so interesting taking the photos too, running along these city walls, actually used to defend from. Soldiers once standing at the very same arrow slots for instance. Crazy feeling...
I can only imagine! I suppose good photos require risks!
And imagine what they must have felt! The weight of the World, no doubt...
This makes me wonder about how many world archaeological treasures are buried in conflict zones. Just imagine, finding early copies of the Bible or the Gospels or other texts in there, that could cause us to re-imagine our faiths!
Both sad, and exciting!
Not to minimize any conflicts, but that's a really good question. No doubt it's a huge percentage around the world... May truth lead to peace...
Thanks for stopping by and commenting!